Thursday, July 18, 2013

A Week at Home

It seems like when you return home from an extended trip that it takes awhile to recover.  It's like having to rest up after coming home from vacation.  I had planned to be productive and post more photos of our trip, do garden work, clean the bathrooms, scan more photos.  Well not much got done.  And that is where Friday Fave Five with Susanne comes in.  Even during a non-productive week, I can find ways to be grateful.

1. I am thankful that I have the flexibility in my summer schedule to take the time to rest.

2. I am thankful for books to read.  Browsing in the library, I picked up a Louis L'Amour novel partly because we had been talking about how he wrote about the places where we had traveled in the Southwest during our road trip--places like Texas, New Mexico and the Arizona desert.  This week I've revisited those places through the eyes and words of Louis L'Amour's books.  It's not deep meaningful literature but it's perfect for rest and relaxation.

3. I am thankful for the gift card given to me at the end of the school year which provided the opportunity for me to purchase two books.  (Yes, the theme here may be sitting around reading)  I bought another Newbery Award book.  Ginger Pye (1952).  Also, I had read some reviews of a book about eating vegan.  Great recipes.  Good advice.  So I decided to buy it.  I seldom purchase books, especially cookbooks, but this one includes lists of restaurant chains which offer vegan friendly options and several other helpful lists like daily and weekly menus.


4. I am thankful for easy knitting.  My brain just didn't want to work on anything intricate this week. So I found easy 'brain-dead' knitting:  simple dishcloths.


5. Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for my faithful husband.  On Sunday we celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary.  Our wonderful road trip was our gift to each other, so our actual anniversary was rather low key...church, farmers market, lunch, hang out, pleasant walk.  Weren't we cute forty years ago?


How was your week?

15 comments:

Gracie Saylor said...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY :) :)
Your road trip and on the day activities were wonderful ways to celebrate! Isn't it an amazing privilege to grow to know someone so dearly for so many years?
Before he died four years ago, my husband and I had that privilege for 38 years, and I treasure my memories of our for better or worse time together :)
I still want to track down and read all the Newberry honor/winner books, and have yet to ever read a Louie L'Amore book.
A simple dishcloth pattern is my go to project for mindless knitting, too!
xx,
Gracie

Tracy said...

Happy 40th Anniversary to you & the Professor, Willow... 40 years, that's a beautiful milestone!LOVELY to see your wedding photos--sweet! A summer-vacation week at home--not a bad thing! ;o) Thank you for the reading/book tip. I have Michael Pollan's new one, COOKED, on my reading list. We're savoring summer day here--gardening, salads, fresh fruit... loving it! :o) ((HUGS))

Faith said...

Happy Anniversary!! 40 years is something to be VERY thankful for....good job!! I love reading and the flexibility of being at home resting during the summer months. It is truly a blessing to have the summer off. Love your wedding day pic, too!! Enjoy whatever the weekend brings to you!

Kathie said...

40 years!! A wonderful milestone and such a reason to celebrate - especially in this day and age! A sweet wedding shot! My dh and I are celebrating our 37th later this year.

Reading is perfect summer activity. I've never tried L'Amour. what title?

Hope you continue to rest up - you're right - I always need a vacation after the vacation!

Many blessings

Susanne said...

What a lovely pair you make! Happy Anniversary to you both!

What would I do without reading. A gift certificate to a bookstore would certainly make my day!

Heather said...

It takes me time to get back in the swing of things after being gone too. Glad you are able to rest and relax!

I love to read. I have so many books,I don't know if I will ever read them all.

Happy anniversary to you and your husband! What a great thing to celebrate!

aspiritofsimplicity said...

You certainly were a handsome husband and wife! Congrats on 40 years. I think going to the farmers market together and little things like that sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate.

Jerralea said...

Congratulations on 40 years! What a sweet wedding picture!

Reading is my very favorite thing to do, so a week like yours would be a favorite to me.

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

Until your #4 and with the exception of about 5 digits of your #5, I was thinking perhaps we live in parallel universes.

Happiest of anniversaries! I know what you mean about relaxing reading. I had a book waiting for me that will require more emotional involvement than I could give the other night...so I chose the fluff. Have a great week ahead!

Bethany said...

Happy Anniversary!! Your daughters look a lot like you! I'm glad to hear that you had a restful week. So did I, though I did get some bathrooms cleaned today! ;)

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Sometimes the best thing in the world is to just sit around and read! Wow, you two were not just cute 40 years ago, you are gorgeous. And many congratulations on your 40th anniversary, that is simply wonderful.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, still a few weeks to go.

susan said...

I am going to check out your Vegan cookbook. My d-i-l is a vegan and so I am always on the hunt for good recipes.

How fun to be reading a book that lets you revisit where you were while on vacation. It's like the vacation gets extended. :)

We all need quiet weeks especially after a vacation. So glad you were able to be restful.

Finally, congrats on 40 years. That is amazingly beautiful.

snoopydogknits said...

Congratulations! You looked beautiful on your wedding day. What a beautiful bride in a stunning dress, with her handsome husband. Gorgeous! ROs

nikkipolani said...

Fortieth! What a wonderful milestone! My brother's 40th birthday is this week, so it'll be easy to remember which anniversary you're on :-)

You are surely enjoying your summertime relaxation.

Julene said...

Yes, just as cute as can be!
You had a very productive week recovering and having a good time doing it! Happy 40th! Sweet memories!